The Odisha Krushak Mahasangha (OKM) has welcomed the cancellation of 214 coal blocks by Supreme Court in the country saying that these coal blocks were allotted to the private leaseholders illegally.
“Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1973 had made coal blocks nationalised in 1973 under which allotment of coal blocks to private lease holders was an offence. Even allotment of the same without tenders was a serious offence. But the then Congress Government which came to power after Indira Gandhi had violated the guidelines,” alleged Bibhudhendra Pratap Das in a Press release.
Stating that water drought is certain in the State and country for coal-based thermal power plant, the former MlA argued that solar power plant is now an alternative to coal-based thermal power plant.
“If the Government would renovate all hydro power projects operating in the State with Japan technology, then five times more electricity will be produced from each of the hydro power plant,” said Das.